Engine starter control apparatus



Dec. 14, 1937. J, B DYER 2,101,931

' ENGINE STARTER CONTROL APPARATUS Filed Sept. 11, 1953 86 I 5 y 82 7-0 nsnf/r/o/x/ 3% f/ L/mnMw5% UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,101,931 ENGINE STARTER CONTROL APPARATUS John B. Dyer, Pendleton; Ind., assignor, by mesne assignments, to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich,, a corporation of Delaware Application September 11, 1933, Serial No. 688,887

20 Claims. (Cl. 290-37) This invention relates to apparatus for control ling engine starting devices and more particularly to that form of engine starting device which is controlled automatically or semi-automatically.-

Starting devices of the semi-automatic type which include a starting motor designed to be rendered operative upon the closing of the ignition switch and a second switch operable by some of the ordinary control devices of the vehicle, such for instance, as the accelerator pedal, or

clutch pedal, and rendered inoperative by engine suction when the engine is running under its own power, are old and an example of such devices is disclosed in applicants copending application Serial No. 594,553, filed February 23, 1-932. 'In this form of the device either the switch which is to be opened by engine suction.

In devices of this character which have been already designed, it has been found difiicult to provide a suction-operated switch which is sufliciently sensitive to remain open under all operating conditions when the engine is running under its own power and which is not sensitive enough to be opened during the cranking of the engine by the starting motor. For instance, when the engine is operating under very heavy load with wide open throttle, as when an automotive vehicle is ascending a steep incline, the suction on the switch is very low, approaching the suction which is effective duringthe cranking of the engine by the starting motor and it has been found diflicult to design a SUCtiOHe-COHtI'OHEd switch which will remain in open position when the engine is operating under heavy load as described and which will not open during engine cranking.

It is the principal object of the present invention to provide a suction-operated switch which will remain closed at all times during the cranking of the engine by the starting motor, but which will be held open under all conditions of speed i and load when the-engine is operating under its own power.

According to the present invention, this object is accomplished by the provision of. a diaphragm which is controlled by the joint engine suction and a small electromagnet so that the switch is opened and held open during such time as the engine is operating under its own power, under the electromagnet and under such circumstances the suction efiective on the diaphragm is insuflicient to open the switch.

Further objects and advantages of thepresent invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing wherein a preferred embodiment of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a wiring diagram disclosing a preferred form of the present invention.

Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are detailed views showing the specific construction of the switch.

Referring to Fig. 1, the starting motor is indicated at 20 and has an armature shaft 22'on which is splined a sleeve 24 which is secured to one member of an overrunning clutch 26, the other member of which is secured to or integral with a pinion 28 driven by the starting motor and adapted to be moved into engagement with a gear 30 formed on the engine flywheel in order to turn said gear and start the engine whenever the starting motor is operated. The sleeve .24 is moved to the right in Fig. 1 in order to effect engagement of the pinion 28 with the gear 30 and when this takes place the circuit between the starting motor and the battery is closed by means which will now be described, so as to render the starting motor effective.

To this end the sleeve 24 is provided with a rooved collar 32 which is slidabie'on the sleeve and said collar is engaged by pins 34 projecting from the bifurcated lower end of a lever 36 suitably pivoted at 38 and pivotally connected at its upper end with an armature 40 of an electromagnet indicated in its entirety by the reference character 42. When the electromagnet is energized, the lever 36 is moved in a counterclockwise direction and through the medium of the collar 32, compresses a spring 44 which surrounds the sleeve 24 between the collar 32 and clutch 26 to move the pinion 28 into engagement with the flywheel gear, as previously described, and

hereinafter described, to a battery 60, grounded through the connection 62. The movable contact 45 is normally held out of engagement with the contacts 52 and 5% by a compression spring 66, but upon energization of the electromagnet 32 the contact 16 is moved so as to engage both of the contacts 52 and 55, thus closing the circuit of the starting motor. When this takes place, current will fiow' from the battery Gil through wires 58 and 56, contacts 5%, iii and 52 and wire 50 to the starting motor, thence through the connection 418 to ground and from ground by the action of anotherelectromagnet which assists the suction of the engine, said magnet being energized by the action of the generator when the latter is operating at a predetermined speed after the engine is operating under its own power.

In order to control the operation of the electromagnet 32 in this manner, it is provided with a winding 66, one end of which is grounded at 68 and the other end of which is connected by a wire iii with one fixed contact 72 of a switch indicated in its entirety by the reference numral i i and provided with a secondfixed contact it connected by a wire it with a wire 8d which leads to the ignition system of the engine (not shown) from the fixed contact 82 of the ignition switch, the latter being provided with a. movable contact 85 which is adapted to be moved into engagement with contact 82 manually and is connected by a wire 86 with the wire 58 leading from the generator to-the battery as previously described.

The switch 76 is adapted to be closed by operation of the accelerator pedal as will be hereinafter more specifically set forth and when the ignition switch and the switch M are both closed,

the current will flow from the battery through the'wires 58 and 86, the ignition switch, wire '18, the switch M and wire F0 to the winding 56 and through the connection 68 to ground, thence through connection 62 back to the battery, thus energizing the magnet and causing the operation of the lever 36 and the closing of the starting motor switch as previously described. The switch M is operated automatically by the combined action of engine suction and a magnet energized when the generator is charging as will be more specifically set forth hereinafter.

The switch 18 comprises a sheet metal housing 88 which may be supported adjacent the engine inany desirable way. Riveted or secured in any other desirable manner to this housing is a dia phragm chamber formed by two cup-shaped metal shells 90 and 92 suitably flanged and joined together so as to form a fluid tight joint with the diaphragm 94 secured between the flanges. A third cup-shaped shell 96 is provided which is also suitably flanged and is secured between the flange of shell 92 and the bent-over flanged portion of shell 90, as indicated in the drawing. The shell 96 forms a housing for the electromagnet. The housing 88 is closed at one end by a circular block of insulating material 98 supporting the fixed contacts 12 and 16 hereinbefore referred to. Secured to and supported at one end by the diaphragm St in any suitable manner and extending through an opening H16 in the housing 88 is a cylindrical element "12 having a stud 906 which projects from and is integral with the opposite end of said cylindrical member.

Pivotally mounted on this stud is a movable contact member 9% having arcuate contact surfaces flfifi which are adapted to be moved into contact with the fixed contacts '82 and 76 when the member W2 is rotated by means which will be later described. The contact member 1105 is held flat against the closed end of the cylindrical member m2 by washers Mil and a locking clip H2 which engages a groove (not shown) in the stud W6. Posts M 1 and H6 are secured in the housing 38 on opposite sides of the member 002 and act as stops to limit the rotary movement of the contact member BBB while a helical spring H8 is connected at one end to the post H6 and at its other end to the contact member 506 so that the spring tends to rotate the contact mem ber toward its normal open position under all .circumstances.

In order to move the contact member Hi6 into engagement with the fixed contacts l2 and i6, there is provided a sleeve 529 which is closed at one end, the closed end fitting within a suitable recess in the insulating material 98. and projecting therefrom is a stud l22 journalled in said insulating material andhaving secured thereto in any desirable way at its outer end, an arm I26 which is adapted to be connected in any suitable way to the accelerator pedal or some member operated thereby. This sleeve isprovided with slots H28 which embrace the movable contact member 806 so that-rotation of the sleeve in the manner hereinafter described rotates the movable contact member. The member 98 may be held in place in any suitable manner and may have notches H32 formed in its periphery which receive suitable tangs (not shown) projecting the face of the member 98.

Secured on the upper side art the diaphragm 9 5 is a disk i 3 3 which has a diameter almost as great as that of the interior of the shell 92. This disk is slightly cup-shaped in form and is held against the diaphragm by the end of the cylindrical element E62 which extends through an-opening in the disk and is riveted or spun over the edge of the opening to form a rigid assembly. This disk forms the armature of the electromagnet, the winding of which is received within the housing 96. Extending through an opening in the shell 92. is a nipple 936', the lower end of which is riveted or spun over the edge of the opening in said shell so that the shell and nipple are rigidly secured together. This nipple, at its upper end, has a bore of reduced size which is threaded as indicated at H8 and is adapted'to be connected to a suitable suction conduit extending to some suit able port on the intake manifold, or the suction conduit may be connected to the nipple in any other suitable way. Received within the nipple I36 is a coil spring M0, one end of which engages the armature disk I34 and the other end of which of the insulating material 98.

The above described nipple extends through an opening within the shell 96 and received within the shell outside the nipple is the winding I42 of 75 It will be noted that the wire I44 is connected to the wire 58 which leads to the generator at a point 7 between the generator and the usual cutout relay I 48 so that when the'generator is running at suihcient speed to charge the battery, current will flow from the generator through the wire 58, wire I44, the winding I42 and the ground connection I46 to ground, energizing the magnet. When this takes place the magnet exerts an upward. pull on the armature disk I34 and aids the engine suction which is communicated through the previously described suction conduit and the nipple I36 to the upper side of the diaphragm, in overcoming the pressure of spring I40.

The operation of this switch is substantiallyias follows. When the engine is at rest the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 2, the contact member I06 occupying the position shown in'full lines in Fig. 3 with the contact surface I80 out of engagement with the fixed contacts I2 and I but i in engagement with the surface of the insulating material 98. Upon movement of the operating arm I26 in a counterclockwisedirection from the full line to the dotted line position in Fig. 3, the contact I08 will be moved into engagcment with contacts I2 and I6. If the ignition switch has been previously closed, current will then flow through the path previously described frrm the battery to the electromagnet 42, the magnet being thus energized to effect the starting of the engine. During the entire movement of the accelerator pedal from the closed to full open throttle position, as indicated by the full and dotted line positions of the arm in Fig. 3, the contacts I08 would remainin engagement with the contacts'lZ and 16 unless the contact member 106 the surfaces of such material.

. this switch are both utilized to move the contact were pulled away from the face of the insulating material 98 in a direction. substantially normal to The enginc'suction and the electromagnet which forms part of member I06 in the manner described. The pressure of the spring I40 is so great that the engine suction is insuflicient during the operation of the starting motor while cranking the engirieto-overcome the effect of this spring and thegenerator is not running at sufiicient speed at this time to cause the electromagnet I42;to\aic i the action of engine suction to perform this function. Therefore, during all the time the engine is being operated by the starting motor, the switch contacts I08 would be in engagement with the contacts I2 and I6.

When the engine starts running under its own power, however, the speed of the generator is increased and the suction of the engine is also increased so that the winding I 42 is energized and the combined effect of the electromagnet and the suction on the diaphragm 94 is always suflicient to overcome the pressure of the spring and the contact member I06 is moved away from the face of the insulating material 98 and is no longer in contact with the fixed contacts I2 and 16..

power, the suction will be so great that the switch will be opened before the generator is operating at sufiicient speed for the pull of the magnet to be material. If, however, the throttle be partially open, the suction will not be sufficient to open the switch and the latter will remain closed until the pull of the magnet becomes considerable and aids the suction in opening the switch...

It will be understood that after the armature I34 has been moved upwardly, the edge of the disk which forms such armature will engage the shell 92 thus forming a magnetic seal between these parts and eliminating the air gap which normally exists so that after the magnet has become effective it will require much less pull of the magnet to hold the armature in its upward positionthan would be required to move it to such position initially. Therefore, after the switch has already been opened, the speed of the engine when operating under load may be reduced to substantially the cranking speed without permitting the spring I40 to overcome the efiect of the suction and magnet, because the effect of the magnet is greater in proportion to the generator speed at such time than before the switch is opened. In fact, the engine must substantially stop before the spring I 40 can move the movable contact toward the fixed contacts.

While the embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:-

1. Control apparatus for engine starting devices comprising a current source, a starting motor adapted to be operated by current from said source, a control switch for controlling the operation of said starting motor having fixed and movable contacts, manually operable means for operating said movable contact to'close said switch to cause said starting motor to become operative, and a plurality of meansoperable by the engine for holding said movable contact in position to maintain said switch open during the operation of the engine under its own power, said means being operable irrespective of the position of the switch closing means.

2. Control apparatus for engine starting d vices comprising a current source, a starting motor adapted to be operated by current from said source, a control switch for controlling the operation of said starting motor comprising fixed and movable contacts, means for controlling the supply of fuel mixture to the engine, means operable by said mixture controlling means for moving said movable contact to position to close the control switch, means operable by engine suction to move said movable contact to position to open the switch when the engine begins to operate under its own power, and another means operable by the engine to hold the movable con- .tact in position to maintain said switch open as long as the engine continues to run, and effective only after the switch is opened. 3. Control apparatus for engine starting devices comprising a current source, a starting motor adapted to be operated by current from said source. a control switch for controlling the operation of said starting motor comprising fixed and movable contacts, means for controlling the supply of fuel mixture to the engine, means 0perable by said mixture controlling means for moving said movable contact to position to close the control switch, means operable by the engine suction to move said movable contact to position to open the switch when the engine begins to operate under its own power, and a mag-' net energized when the engine is running and adapted to hold said movable contact in position to maintain the switch open-as long as the engine continues to run.

4. Control apparatus for engine starting devices comprising a current source, a starting motor adapted to be operated by current from said I source, a control switch for controlling the operation of said starting motor comprising fixed and movable contacts, manually operable means for moving said. movable contact to close the switch, means operated by. engine suction for moving said movable contact to position to open the switch when the engine begins to run under its own power, and means also operated by the engine for holding the movable contact in position to maintain the switch open as long as the engine continues to run, said last named means being eifective only after the switch is opened.

-5. Control apparatus for engine starting de-' vices comprising a current source, a starting inotor adapted to be operated by current from said source, a control switch for controlling the operation of said starting motor having fixed and movable contacts, manually operable means for moving said movable contact to positiontoclose the switch, means operated by engine suction for vices comprising a current source, a'starting mo-a tor adapted to be 'operated by current from said source, a control switch for controlling the operation of said starting motor, comprisingfixed and movable contacts, manually operable means for moving said movable contact to close said switch to cause said starting motor to become operative, means operable by the engine for mov-- ing said movable contact to position to open the switch when the engine begins to run under its own power, a generator, an electromagnet in circuit with the generator and adapted to be energized by the generator when the engine is operating under its ownpower and positioned to hold the switch open as long as the engine continues to run, said magnet being efiective on said switch only afterthe latter is open.

7. Control apparatus for engine starting devices comprising a current source, a starting motor adapted to be operated by current from said source, a control switch for controlling the operation of said starting motor, comprising fixed and movable contacts, manually operable means for moving saidmovable contact to close said switch to cause said starting motor to become operative,

' "means operable by the engine suction for moving said movable contact to position to open the ,switch when the engine begins to run under its own power, a generator, an electromagnet in cir-c cuit with the generator and adapted to be energized by the generator when the engine is operating under its own power and positioned to hold the switch open as long as. the engine continues to run, said'magnet being effective on said switch only after the latter is open,

8. Control apparatus for engine starting devices comprising a current source,.a starting motor adapted to be operated by current from said ,source, a control switch for controlling the operation of said starting motor having fixed and movable contacts, means for controlling the supply of fuel mixture to the engine, means operable by said mixture controlling means for moving said movable contacts to position to close the control switch, means operable by the engine suction to move said movable contact to position to open the switch when the engine begins to operate under its own power, a generator, and an vices comprising a current source, a starting mo- "toradapted to be operated by current from said able contact out of engagement with the fixed contact and a magnet for holding the switch open, said magnet including an armature also carried by said suction operated member where by when the magnet is energized the movable contact is held out of engagement with the fixed contact, said magnet being efiective on said switch only after the switch is opened.

10. Control apparatus for engine starting devices comprising a current source, a starting motor adapted to be operated by current from said ,Source, a control switch for controlling the operation of said starting motor, said switch comprising fixed and movablecontacts, a suction operated member directly carrying said movable contact, manually operable means for causing said movable contact to be moved to switch closing position, means for communicating the engine suction to said member when the engine is operating under its own power to move said movable contact out of engagement with the fixed contact, a magnet for holding the switch open, said magnet including an armature also carried by said suction operated member whereby ,when the magnet is energized the movable contact is held out of engagement with the fixed contact and means whereby the magnetis energized at all times when the engine is operating under its own power, said magnet being effective on said switch only after the switch isopened.

11. In control apparatus for engine starting devices having a current source and a starting motor adapted to be operated by current from said source, a control switch for controlling the connection of the starting motor with said current source, said control switch having a fixed contact, a movable contact manually movable to switch closing position, a suction operated member operable by engine suction to move the movable contact to switch open position, and an.

electromagnet energizable by the engine to hold the movable contact in switch open position during all operation of the engine under its own power, said means being operable irrespective of the position of the switch closing means.

12. In control apparatus for engine startingdevices having a current source and a starting motor adapted to be operated by current from connection of the starting motor with said current source, said control switch having a fixed contact, a movable contact manually movable to switch closing position, a suction operated member supporting themovable contact and operable by engine suction to move said movable contact out of engagement with said fixed contact, an

electromagnet having an armature supported by said suction operated member and energizable by the engine to hold said movable contact out of engagement with the, fixed contact during all operation of the engine under its own power, said means being operable irrespective of the position of the switch closing means.

13. Control apparatus for engine starting devices comprising a current source, a starting motor adapted to be operated by current from said source, a control switch for controlling the operation of said motor having fixed and movable contacts, manually operable means for causing the movable contact to be moved to a position to close said switch, engine operated means for moving said movable contactto efiect opening of the switch, said means being constructed to exert a force on said movable contact either in its'open or closed position, a second engine operated means also exerting a force on said movable contact tending to move said contact to position to open the switch and operative to hold said contact in open position during operation of the engine under its own power, said last named means being so constructed that it exerts insufficient force to move the contact to switch open position, and sufficient force to hold the switch open only after said movable contact is moved to open position.

14. Control apparatus for engine starting devices comprising a current source, a starting mo-w tor adapted to be operated by current from said source, a control switch for controlling the operation of said motor' having fixed andmovable contacts, manually operable means for causing the movable contact to be moved to a position to close said switch, means for holding the movable contact in closed position, engine operated means the engine runs under its own power, said last named means being inefiective to overcome the force holding the switch closed until the movable contact has been moved to open position.

15. Control apparatus for engine starting devices comprising a current source, a starting motor adapted to be operated by current from said source, a control switch for controlling the operation of said motor having fixed and movable contacts, manually operable means for causing the movable contact to be moved to a position to close said switch means operable by engine suction for moving said movable contact to open position and operable to exert substantially the same force on said contact whether the latter is open or closed, a generator and means operated by the generator exerting a force on said movable contact tending to move said contact to position to open the switch and operative to hold said contact in open position during operation of the engine under its own power, said last named means being so constructed that it exerts insumclent, force to move the contact to switch open position, and sufficient force to hold the vices comprising a current source, a starting motor adapted to be operated from current from said source, a control switch having fixed and movable contacts for controlling the operation of said starting motor, manually operable means for causing the movable contact to be moved to a position to close said switch, means operable by the engine to exert a force on the movable contact to move said contact to switch open position, and a second means also operable by the engine exerting a force tending to move said movable contact to open position and efiective to exert a sufiicient force on said movable contact to hold said contact in switch open position during operation of the engine under its own power, said last named means being inefiective until the first named means has moved the switch contact to open position.

17. Control apparatus for engine starting devices comprising a current source, a starting motor adapted to be operated from current from said source, a control switch having fixed and movable contacts for controlling the operation of said starting motor, manually operable means for causing the movable contact to be moved to a position to close said switch, suction operated means exerting a force on the movable contact to move said contact to switch open position, and a magnet energized during operation of the engine exerting a force tending to move said movable contact to open position and efiective to exert suificient force on the movable contact to hold said contact in switch open position, said magnet being ineffective until the switch contact is moved to open position.

18. Control apparatus for engine starting devices comprising a current source, a starting motor adapted to be operated from current from said" source, a control switch having fixed and movable contacts for controlling the operation of said starting motor, manually operable means .for causing the movable contact to be moved to a position to close said switch, aplurality of means exerting a force on said movable contact tending to move it toward switch open position, one of said means exerting insuificient force to move said contact independently of the other means and operative to hold said contact in its open position only after said contact has been moved to such position.

19. Control apparatus for engine starting devices comprisinga current source, a starting motoradaptedtobeoperated from current from said source, a control switch having fixed andmovable contacts'for controlling the operation of said starting motor, manually operable means for causing the movable contact to be moved to a position to close saidswitch, means operable by engine suction and a magnet exerting a force on said movable contact tending to move said contact to switch open position, said magnet being so constructed that the force exerted thereby is insufiicient to move the movable contact to open position independently of the suc-' 20. Controlapparatus forengine starting devices comprising a current source, a starting motor adapted to be operated by current from said source, a magnetic switch for connecting the starting motor with the current source and for establishing driving connection between the starting motor and the engine, a control switch for controlling the operation of said magnetic switch having fixed and movable contacts, manually operable means for causing said movable contact to be moved to position to close the 10 switch in order to cause the starting motor to become operative, means operable by the engine when it begins to run under its own power for 

